Taiyuan, Headquarters of the First Army of the Japanese North China Expeditionary Force
"Immediately send a message to Tadao Yoshizawa and ask the 3rd independent mixed brigade to speed up. It is only a few dozen kilometers away, with mules, horses and cars, but they are not even halfway there yet. What does he want to do? "Lieutenant General Shinozuka Yoshio thought that when he got up this morning, he would get the news that the 3rd independent mixed brigade had arrived at Laojun Mountain and launched an attack. But now it is almost ten o'clock in the morning, and the 3rd independent mixed brigade is actually still far away from Heyuan County. Small distance of twenty kilometers.
"Your Excellency, General Yoshizawa Tadao has no choice. The local troops of the Eighth Route Army have been like crazy since nightfall yesterday and launched an all-out attack on the 3rd Independent Mixed Brigade. Roads and bridges were completely destroyed, and the Imperial Army had to spend a lot of time. Forget about repairs, they also filled up wells, blocked rivers, and relocated villagers along the way. If the imperial army did not still control some towns and passes, it is estimated that the imperial army would have problems with drinking water. "Yoshio Shinozuka At least the Lieutenant General rested for a few hours. Our Major General Yamamoto Kazuki spent the whole night staring at the situation of the independent 3rd Brigade. At this time, he felt that he had to say something fair for Yoshizawa Tadao.
"Humph, it's still the same old thing. There are no new methods for these Tubal Road soldiers. That guy Yoshizawa Tadao has also fought against the Eighth Route Army several times. This time, he even strengthened two divisions of the Imperial Alliance Army for him, but he was still tricked by the Eighth Route Army. It’s such a shame!” Lieutenant General Yoshio Shinozuka obviously felt that this was not a reason. After all, it was not the first time that the Eighth Route Army had done this. If they were all like you who independently formed the 3rd Brigade, the Imperial Army of Jin Province would still be Are you going to fight?
"Your Excellency, what we want is an armed attack. Compared with the previous cold shots and planting a few landmines, the Eighth Route Army troops this time strengthened a large number of machine guns and small-caliber mortars. They worked non-stop throughout the night. The attack was launched, and the night limited the imperial army's pursuit. Hundreds of imperial troops and more than 2,000 imperial associate troops were lost in one night. The troops of the independent mixed 3rd brigade did not have a good rest. Today, they can only Slowed down the marching speed." Yamamoto Kazuki continued, more than 8,000 Imperial Army troops were independently mixed into the 3rd Brigade, plus the attached Imperial Alliance Army troops, there were more than 20,000 people. A troop of this size can only Maybe we were camping in the wild, but at night, with several shells or bullets flying in every few minutes, it felt so sour and refreshing.
Send a team of more than a dozen people to pursue them, or they might be ambushed and annihilated by the Eighth Route Army. You know, these attackers are equipped with machine guns and mortars. However, if you send a small team to pursue them, Except for maybe being hit by a few shells, they couldn't catch anything, so they could only be exhausted. But for the morale of the troops, the imperial army couldn't do nothing, so throughout the night, the independent 3rd Brigade was responsible for perimeter security. The two infantry brigades were almost exhausted and vomited blood. Two squadrons were killed piecemeal by the Eighth Route Army. As for the Imperial Association Army, the number of those who were annihilated and deserted was definitely more than 2,000. As for how many, Yoshizawa Lieutenant General Tadao has no interest in knowing.
"Yamamoto-kun, tell me how is the situation in Heyuan County?" Lieutenant General Shinozuka Yoshio was a little impatient. The Imperial Army's troops are like this. They are invincible when they talk about it, but once they take action, there are many situations, and they are independent. The loss figures reported by the 3rd mixed brigade must still have a lot of water. Think about an independent mixed brigade with a full strength of 8,000 people. Yoshizawa Tadao is a complete idiot.
"According to the photos taken by the aviation force, the Eighth Route Army is still building the main Laojun Mountain position on a large scale. Around the Laojun Mountain position, they have concentrated at least 20,000 armed forces and at least the same number of farmers. These farmers are helping They built fortifications, large-scale permanent fortification groups." As he spoke, Yamamoto Kazuki also presented a stack of photos to Lieutenant General Shinozuka Yoshio.
"How many aircraft can the aviation force provide at maximum to assist in the battle?" Lieutenant General Yoshio Shinozuka was extremely troubled after looking at the photo. The ground fortifications of the Eighth Route Army in the photo had obviously been bombed, but compared to the huge position group at Laojun Mountain, The little damage caused by Japanese aviation was really negligible.
"Your Excellency, Commander, Lieutenant General Kinoshita Toshiba has mobilized twenty more aircraft from Peiping to Taiyuan. Together with the aircraft from Datong, we can mobilize sixty bombers at one time. However, as of this morning, the aviation force has been used up. All aerial bombs over 50 kilograms. In fact, there are not many aerial bombs over 50 kilograms. The aviation force is studying the use of light bombs in stock, but there are not many aircraft that can mount them." Kusuyama Hideyoshi naturally looked at it. Lieutenant General Yoshio Shinozuka's thoughts were that the seemingly powerful aviation force was actually useless in North China.
"Chief of Staff, didn't we apply for the loan of aircraft materials and bombs from the Kwantung Army early on? Why haven't there been any improvements?" Lieutenant General Shinozuka Yoshio felt that he was so weak and his team was not strong enough. No matter how many tricks he had, Ingenuity is of no use.
"Your Excellency, Commander, the Military Ministry approved our application early in the morning. All the more than 500 kilograms of aerial bombs stored by the Kwantung Army have been transferred out. However, at present, these have all been transported to Wuhan. The aviation force will bomb Chongqing with all its strength and force Chongqing to The government quickly surrendered, which was the consensus of the military department and the cabinet." Major General Kusuyama Hideyoshi smiled bitterly.
"So, we can only watch the Eighth Route Army building fortifications like this, without even a single solution, right? The Eighth Route Army even dared to move out motor vehicles." Lieutenant General Shinozuka Yoshio, who has always been well-mannered, almost wanted to curse. Well, I used my connections and my face to get some aviation materials and ammunition reserves for the aviation force, but that guy Kinoshita Toshi actually transferred the precious aviation materials and ammunition to Wuhan. Judging from Kinoshita's position, this was done with the overall situation in mind. But for the First Army, this was simply draining the firepower.
"Your Excellency, this morning, Lieutenant Colonel Hirata Ichiro has reinforced one regiment of Imperial Army cavalry and two squadrons of Imperial Army troops. Currently, the Imperial Army is planning to attack the Eighth Route Army's supply line." Yamamoto Kazuki thought it would be better to give him some good news. Good news for Yoshio Shinozuka, but he was a little unsure whether it was good news or not.
"Two squadrons, it's almost 24 hours. It's been almost 24 hours since the main force of the Eighth Route Army appeared around Heyuan County, but the support provided by the imperial army is only two squadrons. It's really difficult for Hirata Ichiro." Shinozuka Yoshi The man smiled wryly and laughed at himself.
"Report! The latest information from the aviation force." At this time, a staff officer sent in the latest aerial photo taken by a reconnaissance plane.
"Nani, is this the Hutei stronghold?" Looking at the aerial photos of the Hutei stronghold in his hand, Lieutenant General Yoshio Shinozuka's hands trembled unconsciously. The Hutei stronghold has been transformed into a fortress by the imperial army. The stronghold had been completely destroyed at this time. There was not even a complete building in the huge stronghold area. If it weren't for the distinctive landforms nearby, I wouldn't be able to tell where this place is.
"Large-caliber mortars, heavy artillery with a caliber of more than 100 mm. Your Excellency, judging from the photos, the Eighth Route Army used at least two types of heavy artillery and fired a large number of artillery shells. Your Excellency, it seems that the Eighth Route Army already has the means to attack big cities. Combat capability." Major General Kusuyama Hideyoshi said leisurely from the side.
"I'm afraid that's not all. Chief of Staff, please pay attention to the ruts on the ground. The Eighth Route Army should have used a large number of tanks in this battle, and at least two models." Yamamoto Kazuki pointed to the faintly visible parts of the photo. The track marks said.
"That tank battalion of the Eighth Route Army? They didn't attack the Huting stronghold first, and then galloped to attack the Black Island Cavalry Regiment. This maneuverability is too amazing!" Kusuyama Hideyoshi was a little surprised.
"Perhaps, the Eighth Route Army does not only have one tank battalion?" Lieutenant General Yoshio Shinozuka, who had never spoken, thought of another possibility.
"Commander, you don't have to worry too much. Even if the Eighth Route Army has two tank battalions, it's not something to be afraid of. Each of their battalions only has twelve tanks, while a tank squadron of the Imperial Army is equipped with 17 tanks. This time, it will be independently mixed into the third brigade. The regiment is assigned a tank brigade with more than fifty tanks. Even if there is a real tank battle, the imperial army will not be at a disadvantage." Chief of Staff Hideyoshi of Nanxian County comforted him. What he did not say was that the independent mixed corps The third brigade is equipped with all Type 94 tanks, and their combat effectiveness is at the floor level.
The CV-33 is useless, but it was actually fought in North Africa. Whether it is armor protection or attack power, it has been tested. It is also a very good tank on the Asian battlefield. At least, it can be used against the 1994 There is still no problem at all with the tank.
"Tell Tadao Yoshizawa that he must fight steadily and bring all the troops to Heyuan County. This time, the Eighth Route Army in Heyuan County must be severely damaged or even completely annihilated. We must tell these Chinese people who is the best in Jin Province. It's the master!" Lieutenant General Shinozuka Yoshio quickly made up his mind. He wanted to put an end to the inappropriate ideas that the Eighth Route Army had. Otherwise, Jin Province would not be peaceful. As for the Heyuan County incident this time, How the conflict started is no longer important.
With the full support of Lieutenant General Yoshio Shinozuka, Lieutenant Colonel Hirata Ichiro from far away in Heyuan County somehow became the temporary commander of the frontline troops. Troops and materials continued to converge to Heyuan County from all over, and the garrison team , the Gendarmerie, and the Imperial Association Army are all being mobilized one after another. Since the Third Independent Mixed Brigade has been specially mobilized by the Eighth Route Army, I will just mobilize troops from other directions. It is possible that a county or a stronghold can be mobilized. It's not much, but it adds up to a big number. At the very least, it prevents the Eighth Route Army from focusing all its energy on forming an independent third brigade.
